If seva-dhyana comes in the way of nama-dhyana, what to do?

Transcript

This is an AI-generated transcript and may contain some errors.
Does that answer your question? I think that by service we can meditate on Krishna, but seva dhyan sometimes comes in the way of naama dhyan. During chanting, we start thinking about our service and we get distracted. Well, at least, that is, we could say, a devotional distraction.
Rather than an anti-devotional, getting distracted by sensual objects and that sort of thing. That is, we could say, a more damaging distraction. Having said that, we have to deal with the distractions as they come.
So, broadly, in every situation, something is in our control and something is not in our control. So, when we are doing our service, that is the time when we are working on the things that are in our control. I have to make sure that this gets done, this is delegated properly, this is explained properly, this is done this time, this is done like this.
So, to some extent, whenever we have to do a service responsibly, that is the time when we are meant to exercise the control that we have over that situation. At the same time, so, devotion has these two aspects. We have diligence for Krishna, where we take up responsibility and do what is in our control diligently.
But at the same time, devotion also has the other aspect of dependence on Krishna. There are things which are not in my control and that is ultimately in Krishna’s control. So, I depend on you, Krishna.
So, if we see that, yes, if we see this chanting, what is it doing practically? I have to do this situation. If I can do this, I can do that, I can do that, I can do that. Then, it works very well.
And so many things I couldn’t do. Then what is happening? Largely, at the time of chanting, is the time when we are meant to express devotion through dependence on Krishna. And the time of service is when we are meant to express our devotion through diligence for Krishna.
But the nature of the mind is, it switches. So, at the time of service, we want diligence for Krishna. I’ll do this, I’ll do that, I’ll do that.
And at the time of service, Krishna will take care. So, Krishna will take care. So, that way the mind, even within devotion, it makes us misfire, we could say.
So, if we see that, this is the time when that Lord who is the ultimate controller, whom I am praying to, whom I am connecting with, then that seva dhyan, we can see that there are things which are in my control which I will do, but there is a lot beyond my control. If I can please Krishna, Krishna can take care of those things which I am so worried about right now. Or Krishna can even give me the intelligence by which I can better manage the things in my control.
So, if we can see, not the chanting and our service, if we see them as fragmented, or this is taking my time and I have so many things to do over here. But if we see both of them as integrated, as connecting us with Krishna, and here I am connecting with Krishna primarily in the mood of dependence, then we can minimize the seva dhyan. I think that what I am doing here is also going to help me there, even if I am not doing anything practically.
Another thing is that, if a particular kind of distraction regularly distracts us, then it is good to prepare for that. That means, if I find that these are the kind of thoughts which regularly distract me, then later on, after the japa, when we are related in the mood of goodness, we think about it and maybe write down, okay, I am worried about this, I am worried about where we will get the funds, where we will get the people, where we will get the facilities, and these are my worries. And then we use our intelligence, okay, what am I doing to address this? One, two, three.
I have done this, this, and this I am going to do. So, what happens? With respect to dealing with the mind, there is no set formula. That is why Rupa Goswami says, So, sometimes when the mind is just getting too worried about this, this, this, then maybe before we start our japa or the previous night, we just go through this, okay, these are what my concerns are, but this is what I have already done about this.
And there is not much more that I can do. So, let me now focus on Krishna. So, sometimes we can just cultivate the mood of dependence and become absorbed.
But sometimes, if we remind ourselves that I have been diligent in all these ways also, then that can help us to let go. There is a power in holding on to things, so that we can do them properly. But there is also a power in letting go of things.
And chanting is a time when we are tapping the power of letting go. We want to let go of things, so that we can catch hold of our thoughts, and then offer our thoughts to Krishna. If at the time when we are meant to offer our consciousness to Krishna, at that time we are holding on to things, then what happens is those things hold on to our consciousness, and neither those things nor our consciousness goes towards Krishna.
So, if we have to be diligent, and if we have done whatever is diligently required, and we are going to do that in future also, then you have written it down, that calms the mind down. As an author, I find that some of the best ideas for writing, I get while I am chanting. And as soon as I start, I think maybe I should just stop chanting now, and write this article, or at least note down this idea.
But quite often, that same real idea, such a brilliant idea, when later on, even if I note it down, later on I sit down to write, it’s not such a great idea. It requires a lot of work. Maybe I’ll do it later.
So what happens, the real enthusiasm that is there, it is not just because that idea is so great, but because that idea offers a rationalized way of getting distracted from chanting. That’s why the mind becomes so excited about it. Because afterward, the mind doesn’t remain that excited.
I just want to write this right now. But after japa, when I sit down to write it, maybe later we can write it. So that enthusiasm doesn’t stay.
That’s why, this idea ultimately comes from Krishna, and Krishna is the source of all ideas. If the idea is important, Krishna will give it to me later also. Sometimes an idea may be just so strong, it comes so forcefully that just trying to push it out of the mind becomes difficult.
So that time, as an exception, we may decide, I’ll just write down something, I’ll record something on my phone, and continue my japa. We don’t want to make that a habit. But again the point is, dealing with the mind, there is no set formula.
Most often, when some thoughts come, even if they are devotional, just pushing them aside and focusing on Krishna. That’s the best way to move towards Krishna. But sometimes, something just comes so forcefully, that maybe just note it down, record it somewhere, and then get out of the way and focus on Krishna.
That can also be occasionally done. So what will work for the mind is not so predictable. So we have to be resourceful.
Somehow, just like a baby is crying, then the mother doesn’t have a set formula. Sometimes the mother may give some milk, sometimes the mother may give a toy, sometimes the mother may just play with the child, sometimes the mother shouts at the child. The mother may have to do different things.
One time, a devotee sent me a YouTube video of a mother and a child. This baby was crying, crying, crying, and the mother, the relatives, everyone was trying to pacify the baby. And the baby was not getting pacified at all.
And suddenly, the mother started screaming loudly. And the baby saw the mother screaming, mouth fell open, and just looking at the mother, the baby stopped crying. Now, that’s not a recommended way.
But the point I’m making is, with respect to the mind, it is like a child, it’s a baby. So, we have to somehow or the other get to Krishna. And rather than making a rigid thing, that this is what I’m going to do and that is what I’m not going to do.
Okay, if my service is distracting me, then how can I deal with that distraction? So that I can come back to Krishna.